DIER Tasman Highway
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North East Freight Roads Tasman Highway and Gladstone Main Road Upgrades from Derby through to Herrick Submission to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works July 2012 Department of Infrastructure, Energy and Resources Contents A. PROPONENT AND PROJECT DETAILS ........................................................... 1 A 1. Proponent ................................................................................................... 1 A 2. Project Description .................................................................................... 1 B. STRATEGIC FIT ................................................................................................. 6 C. PROJECT OUTCOMES ...................................................................................... 6 D. PROJECT APPROACH AND TIMING ................................................................ 7 E. FINANCIAL ANALYSIS ....................................................................................... 8 E 1. Anticipated Project Total Outturn Cost .................................................... 8 E 2. Cost Benefit Analysis ................................................................................ 8 F. RISK AND GOVERNANCE ................................................................................. 8 F 1. Environmental and Cultural Issues .......................................................... 9 F 2. Public and Stakeholders ......................................................................... 10 G. FREIGHT DEMAND FORECASTS ................................................................... 11 Appendix A – Risk Assessment Appendix B – Governance A. PROPONENT AND PROJECT DETAILS A 1. Proponent Department of Infrastructure, Energy and Resources 10 Murray Street HOBART TAS 7000 A 2. Project Description In 2007 the Australian and Tasmanian Governments committed $34 million and $8.5 million respectively for a total investment of $42.5 million towards a North East Freight Roads program. This included projects that target improved safety, efficiency and level of service along key freight roads in the north east of Tasmania to meet the then forecast 40% increase in freight generated from this part of the state (DIER 2010, Project Proposal Report (Scoping)– North East Freight Roads). As a part of the North East Freight Roads program, this Submission presents a case to upgrade sections of the Tasman Highway and Gladstone Main Road from the townships of Derby through to Herrick, in the north east of Tasmania, to comply with agreed High Productivity Vehicle standards (HPV – maximum 62.5 ton gross vehicle mass). The upgrades include widening, improved geometry for the safety of all road users and the inclusion of new school bus bays. Both roads are located in the north east of Tasmania (within the Municipality of Dorset) and form a freight route between large areas of softwood and hardwood timber plantations and their destination of Bell Bay. Refer to Map A2.1 for general overview. The economy of north east Tasmania is dependent on primary industries, including forestry, dairy farming and agriculture, with tourism growing in significance. Forestry freight is the major freight task in the region and the projected increase in freight relates to the harvesting of plantation forestry estate in the region over recent years. 1 Tasman Highway and Gladstone Main Road Upgrades – From Derby through to Herrick Submission to Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works Map A2.1: Tasman Highway and Gladstone Main Road Location Overview A gazetted high productivity vehicle route exists between Bell Bay and Derby. The proposed upgrades covered within this Submission extend the HPV route to within proximity of timber plantations in the north east of Tasmania. At present, trucks transporting freight through the region proposed for upgrades are restricted to General Access vehicles (GA – maximum 50t gross vehicle mass), and these restrictions affect the timber industry in particular. The proposed upgrade presents a significant increase in efficiency for industries operating in the north east of Tasmania. Existing Road Table 1 below provides information of the current conditions of the Tasman Highway and Gladstone Main Road between Derby and Herrick. Table 1: Existing Asset Information Sealed / Road No. Lanes Lane Width (m) Shoulder Width (mm) AADT* Unsealed Tasman HWY 2 Sealed 5.8 Approx. 300 (varies) 744 Gladstone MR 2 Sealed 5.5 Approx. 300 (varies) 395 *AADT = Annual Average Daily Traffic – Sourced from DIER Traffic Data 2 Tasman Highway and Gladstone Main Road Upgrades – From Derby through to Herrick Submission to Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works Proposed Upgrades The proposed upgrade works will generally consist of basic pavement widening, geometric improvements, targeted pavement strengthening, junction improvements and the provision of safety barriers where required. The upgrade works will take place along 8.76km of the Taman Highway (between Derby and the Gladstone Main Road junction) and 2.06km of Gladstone Main Road (between the Tasman Highway junction to the township of Herrick). Along with the benefits to industries operating in the area, the upgrades will increase the safety for all road users and promote better interactions between passenger and freight vehicles. Included in the upgrades works is the provision of three new bus bays, which will provide a safer transport environment for local school children. The upgrades will also benefit travellers wishing to experience the “Trail of the Tin Dragon” touring route, which incorporates Tasman Highway between Derby and Gladstone Main Road. Upgrade works will ensure 8m of pavement width from Derby through to Herrick, specifically: • Basic widening of the Tasman Highway from 5.8m to 8m sealed width (plus 0.5m unsealed verge each side); • Basic widening of Gladstone Main Road from 5.5m to 8m sealed width (plus 0.5m unsealed verge each side); • Improving road geometry for a 70km/h design speed limit (60km/h from Derby for 1.5km due to complex geometry); • Horizontal and vertical curve realignments; • Sight benching; • Provision of safety barriers where required; • Improvements to the Tasman Highway and Gladstone Main Road junction; • Improvements to the Tasman Highway and Winnaleah Road junction; • Accommodation works including the relocations of overhead and underground services; and • The construction of three new sealed bus bays. Cost estimates for the upgrade works have been carried out and the value of works is estimated to be $14.4 million at 90% confidence level (P90), and $13.8 million at 50% confidence level (P50). Upgrades to the sections of Tasman Hwy and Gladstone Main Road are diagrammatically shown overleaf in Map 2.2. Map A2.2 Overleaf: Proposed Upgrade Works for the Tasman Highway and Gladstone Main Road 3 Tasman Highway and Gladstone Main Road Upgrades – From Derby through to Herrick Submission to Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works 4 Tasman Highway and Gladstone Main Road Upgrades – From Derby through to Herrick Submission to Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works The Planning and Scoping Phase for the project has been completed and the Development and Delivery Phase is currently underway. Table 2 below shows the status of a number of important tasks required for the completion of the proposed upgrades. Table 2: Tasman Highway and Gladstone Main Road Upgrades Scope of Work Description of Task Status as of July 2012 Geotechnical investigations along the Tasman Highway Completed and Gladstone Main Road Built heritage assessments Completed Land capability assessments Completed Flora and fauna investigations Completed Contaminated land assessment Completed Drainage assessments Completed Stakeholder engagement / community consultation Ongoing Indicative plans produced for community Property acquisition plans consultation based on Concept Design Development application Completed Service relocation plans In progress Preliminary design of all upgrades to the Tasman Highway Completed and Gladstone Main Road Detailed design of all upgrades to the Tasman Highway Underway and Gladstone Main Road Tender documentation Underway Construction of all upgrades to the Tasman Highway and To be carried out Gladstone Main Road The proposed project timeline will see completion of the major upgrade works by June 2014. Note that an additional 14mm spray and seal is required to take place approximately 12 months following the completion of construction activities (i.e. during the 2014 / 2015 summer period), however the upgraded road sections shall be open for use and fit for HPV compliance after the completion of major works by June 2014, and only minor traffic delays will be experienced during the additional sealing and line marking activities. Refer to Section D for the anticipated milestones of the upgrades to the Tasman Highway and Gladstone Main Road. 5 Tasman Highway and Gladstone Main Road Upgrades – From Derby through to Herrick Submission to Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works B. STRATEGIC FIT The Development and Delivery Phases for these road upgrades (as part of the North East Freight Roads program) was approved in July 2011 by the Minister for Infrastructure and Transport. The North East Freight Roads Strategy is identified in the MOU between the Australian and Tasmanian Governments. The Project meets the Strategic Merits Test for the North East Freight Roads Strategy and was forwarded to the then Department of Infrastructure, Transport,